Michael Jennings sidelined for six weeks as State of Origin injury toll grows, Matt Scott and Brent Tate out long term

Updated
Fri 20 Jun 2014, 4:12 PM AEST

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Blues centre Michael Jennings could be sidelined with a muscular injury to his back.

Getty Images: Mark Nolan

The injury toll from State of Origin is growing with Blues centre Michael Jennings the latest to be sidelined.

Scans have revealed a torn latissimus dori (back muscle) for Jennings and he will spend six weeks on the sidelines following a torrid Origin II clash won 6-4 by New South Wales over Queensland on Wednesday night.

Jennings will miss the third Origin match in Brisbane on July 9 but will not require surgery.

Also from the winning Blues camp winger Will Hopoate will miss Saturday's game for Parramatta with Melbourne due to a shoulder injury and appears unlikely to play in Origin III.

The Bulldogs are likely to be without half-back Trent Hodkinson for tonight's clash with the Raiders while team-mate Josh Reynolds is expected to play.

Queensland's horror injury run during this year's Origin series continues with serious injuries to Cowboys pair Brent Tate and Matt Scott.

Tate will undergo a knee reconstruction after rupturing his ACL on Wednesday night in Origin II. He will not play again this season and his playing future is in doubt.

His Cowboys team-mate Scott will be out of action for six weeks after having surgery on his fractured cheekbone.

Scott was forced off barely 20 minutes into the loss to NSW with the facial injury, which required surgery in Sydney today.

Scans confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and cartilage damage to his knee.

"Once the swelling in his knee subsides, Tate will undergo surgery," the club said on their website.

"This will occur some time in the next fortnight."

Blues captain Paul Gallen and Cronulla team-mate Luke Lewis are both carrying niggling injuries from the latest Origin battle but are hopeful of taking on Manly on Saturday night.

Luke Lewis did not participate in the Cronulla captain's run today while Gallen completed a light skills session before heading off for physio and massage treatment.

Manly upset at lack of support for Watmough

Manly will be without Blues back rower Anthony Watmough for the Cronulla clash.

Watmough was suspended for four matches for a lifting tackle on Maroons prop Nate Myles after failing to have the grade two charge downgraded at the judiciary on Wednesday night.

Coach Geoff Toovey was disappointed his star forward was not supported by any representatives of the NSW Rugby League.

"It's a massive blow for us and most disappointing for me is we didn't even get a phone call from the NSW rugby league," Toovey fumed.

"No one turned up last night. Just Manly left holding the can once more."

Watmough's loss is a major blow for Manly, who are also without lock Glenn Stewart.

However the Sea Eagles are expecting Daly Cherry Evans to back up from Queensland duty to face Cronulla on Saturday night.